^IIg^@s^ 



BATTLE AT LEXINGTON, 



ON THE MORNING OP THE 



19TH AFRIA, 1775. 



BY 



ELIAS PHINNEY. 



^^x<^Av€r8ityof4^- 






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PRINTED BY PHELPS AND FARNHAM, 

No. 5, Court Street. 



1825. 






Fkanklin Press : 
Rand, Avert, & Co., Boston. 



TO THE 

SURVIVING 
OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS 

OF THE 

LEXINGTON COMPANY OF MILITIA, 

WHO RAISED THE FIRST STANDARD OP 

OPPOSITIOJf TO BRITISH TYRAJTJ^Y, 

ON THE EVER-MEMORABLE MORNING OF THE 

THIS 
HUMBLE, THOUGH SINCERE 

TRIBUTE OF GRATITUDE 

FOR THEIR 

HEROICK DEVOTEDNESS TO THE CAUSE OF CIVIL LIBERTY, 

DISPLAYED ON 

THAT TRYING AND MOMENTOUS OCCASION, 

BY THE AUTHOR. 



Believing that the facts in regard to the first resistance to 
British tyranny at Lexington on the morning of the 19th of April, 
1775, may be of interest to the American public at the present 
time, we publish this facsimile of a little volume faithfully and 
truthfully prepared by an eminent citizen of the town in conformity 
with a vote passed Dec. 13, 1824. 

To this we add a cut of the battle, from an old well-authenticated 
picture, showing the position of forces, buildings, &e, 

C. A. Wellington. 

Lexikgton, April, 1875. 



M^aiFASl, 



JVO apology, it is presumed, will be deemed necessary for plac- 
ing before the publick, at this time, the following statement of 
facts, relative to the affair at Lexington, on the morning of the 
19th of April, 1775. Tho.-e, who have undertaken to relate the 
events of that day, have omitted many important facts and cir- 
cumstances, the tendency of which has been to diminish, in the 
publick estimation, the importance to the country of the stand 
made by the militia of Lexington on that morning. The charac- 
ter of the evidence, upon which historians have relied for inform- 
ation on this subject, may, no doubt, be ascribed as the cause of 
this omission. This consisted, principally, of certain ex j^cifte 
depositions and individual statements, taken and made for parti- 
cular purposes, immediately after the affair happened. Gen. 
Gage, and other apologists of British outrage, had asserted, that 
the people of Lexington commenced the attack upon the king's 
troops. The records and statements* of the transactions of that 
morning, which have been generally referred to, were made with 
a view of contradicting these false accounts, — of giving to the 
conduct of the British soldiery at Lexington the effect of rousing 
the just indignation of an oppressed and injured people, — to 
exonerate Capt. Parker, and the company under his command, 
from the charge of rashness, or of having done more tlian was 
actually necessary in self-defence, — and also to persuade the 
people of this country and of Great Britain, that the king's troops, 
in the attack made upon the uiiiitia at Lexington, had been guilty 
of an act of the most deliberate nuirder. — The question, then, to 
be decided was, whether the Americans fired first, not whether 
they fired at all. Besides, the principle of law, that a person 
was not bound to state any facts in evidence, which might tend 
to criminate himself, was as well known at that day as at the 
present. The struggle hud just commenced, and the issue was 

* Depositions of Capt. John Parker and others, — Narrative by the 
Rev. Jonas Chirk, — and A Litter of Rev. William Gordon to a Gentle- 
man in England, published in this country in 177G. 



6 



quite doubtful. It could not have been expected of those, who 
had taken au active part in the aftair at Lexington, that they 
would voluntarily disclose facts, which might, in all probability, 
as they then considered, expose themselves or their friends to the 
British halter. 

The inhabitants of Lexington feel it to be particularly incum- 
bent on them to lay this statement of facts before the publick, at 
this time, on account of &ome recent publications stating that 
" AT Concord the first blood was shed between the 
British and the armed Americans;" and also, that the 
" first forcible resistance" was made at that place. 

These statements, coming from very respectable sources, 
were viewed by the people of Lexington as not only calculated 
to give an erroneous impression to the world respecting ^/^ejo/ace, 
where the revolutionary war commenced ; but, more particularly, 
to deprive the town of Lexington of the honour of having raised 
the first standard of an armed oppofciiion to the unjust and ty- 
rannical measures of the mother country. The citizens of Lex- 
ington consider it also an indispensable duty, which they owe as 
well to tlie memory of their fellow townsmen, whose blood be- 
came the first offering upon the altar of their country's freedom, 
as to their survivors, who boldly dared to begin the bloody con- 
flict for independence, to endeavour to show, by a simple state- 
ment of well authenticated fiicts, the inaccuracy of these recent 
publiciitions. If these statements should be received and handed 
down as correct matter for the historian, the people of Lexington 
plainly foresaw, that, when the present generation shall have 
passed away, and the hand of time shall have erased the inscrip- 
tion upon the humble, though imperishable monument, erected 
in grateful commemoration of their brave and patriotick towns- 
men, who fell in the first glorious attempt to defend the liberties 
of the country, — future generations might ask, in vain, to know 
the cause, for which this monument was raised. — Accord- 
ingly, at a publick town meeting, recently called for the purpose, 
the inhabitants appointed a committee, consisting of the Hon. 
Nathan Chandler, Rev. Charles Briggs, Elias Phinnoy, Abijah 
Harrington, Amos Muzzy, Charles Piecd, John Muzzy, Benja- 
min 0. Wellington, and Francis Bowman, Jun. Esquires, to collect 
and publissh a statement of such facts, relative to the aftair at 
Lexington, on the morning of the 19th of April, '75, as may be 
supported by undoubted testimony, and which may be calculated 
to place tlie transactions of that day before the publick in their 
true light. In discharging this con;mission, the committee have 
strictly aimed at the truth, not assuming any thing for fact, 
which was not proved by satisfactory evidence. 



&c. 



In the beginning of tlie year 1774, the Britisli Parliament 
passed an act " for the better regulation of the government of 
the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England"* 
The object of this law was to enable the king to take the life of 
any citizen of this Commonwealth at his pleasure ; not, however, 
without the pretended solemnity of judicial proceedings. The 
dark and murderous designs upon the lives and Hberties of these 
colonial subjects were to be afieeted in the following manner : 
The governour, who held his office by direct appointment from 
the king, was to appoint the justices of the Supreme Court, and 
the sheriffs. The jurors were not to be appointed by the free- 
holders, as had before been the course, but to be summoned by 
the sheriffs. Constables were required to deliver to the justices, 
annually, a list of the persons qualified to be jurors, and the 
justices were to deliver a copy of this list to the sheriffs, with 
the intent, that the justices and the sheriff should ascertain the 
political character of those on the list. In default of such list, 
the sheriff was to summon whom he pleased from among the 
people. If the list was returned, the selection was to be made 
from that. Thus the governour was the creature of the king ; 
the justices and sheriffs the creatures of the governour, appointed 
without consent of the council ; and the jurors the creatures of 
the sheriff. The king therefore, when so disposed, could, by 
means of this law, despatch any citizen of this Commonwealth 
obnoxious to him, by merely intimating to the governour, that 
such was his will and pleasure. But the same Parliament, judg- 

♦ Ancient Cbarters, page 786. 



8 



ing it. highly probable, that the people of this colony would resist 
the execution of their bloody and tyrannical proceedings, passed 
anotlier law, about the same time, providing, that, if any person 
should be indicted for murder or other capital offence committed 
in aiding magistracy, the governour might send such person to 
another colony, or to Great Britain, to be tried* This was pro- 
viding a more summary mode than a publick mock trial, to take 
the life of the accused citizen, and subjected him at once to the 
British bayonet. — In the first place, it was not probable, that a 
gi-and jury, thus selected by the sheriff, would indict the soldier, 
who might be guilty of murdering a citizen ; but, if this unex- 
pected event of being indicted should happen, the law provided 
for him a retreat from danger. 

Gen. Gage arrived in Boston the 18th May, 1774. On the 
6th September following, the delegates of Suffolk county re- 
solved, that no obedience was due to the said acts. Gen. Warren 
is supposed to have written these resolves, which were afterward 
expressly sanctioned by the Continental Congress. In the same 
month, the Provincial Congress resolved to enlist men to turn out 
at a minute's warning, and elected three generals, Preble, Ward 
and Pomeroy. In November, they resolved to raise twelve 
thousand men, and that a fourth part of the militia should be en- 
listed as minute men, and notified the neighbouring colonies, and 
the ministers of the several towns in the province, of these bold 
and patriotick resolutions, and apprized them of the bloody 
scenes, which they apprehended to be approaching. 

In the same month of November, the king informed his Par- 
liament, that he had taken measures to carry these laws into ex- 
ecution, which the House of Commons, in their answer, approved, 
as did also the House of Lords. At this portentous moment, 
Lord Chatham, who clearly perceived, that some catastrophe, 
awful and tremendous to England, would soon take place in 
Massachusetts, suddenly appeared in the House of Peers, and 
exerted his utmost eloquence to have the British troops removed 
from Boston ; but in va'n. 

On the 9th February, 1775, the Lords and Commons jointly 
addressed the king, and requested him to enforce 'obedience to 

* Holmes's Annals, Vol. II. ynge 308. 



9 



tliese laws, and assured him they would stand by him with their 
lives and property.* 

On the same 9th day of February, the Provincial Congress of 
Massachusetts, then in session at Cambridge, resolved, that " Jede- 
diah Preble, Artomas Ward, Seth Pomeroy, John Thomas, and 
William Heath, be, and hereby are appointed general officers, 
whose business and duty it shall be, with such and so many of 
the militia of this province as t>hall be assembled by order of the 
Committee of Safety, effectually to oppose and resist such attempt 
or attempts as shall be made for carrying into execution an act of 
the British Parliament, entitled ' An Act for the better regulation 
of the government of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New 
England,' and who shall attempt the carrying into execution by 
force another act of the British Parliament, entitled ' An Act 
for the more impartial administration of justice in cases of per- 
sons, who shall be questioned for any act done by them in the 
execution of the law, or for the suppression of riots and tumults 
in the Province of Massachusetts Bay,' so long as the said mili- 
tia shall be retained by the Committee of Safety, and no longer. 
And the said general officers shall, while in said service, com- 
mand, "lead, and conduct in the said opposition, in the order 
in which they are above named." Preble declined the service, 
and, on the 15th February, John Whitcomb was appointed in his 
placet 

The nature and object of the laws mentioned in this resolve, 
have been before explained. This resolve, which is, in fact, little 
short of a declaration of war against an empire, at that time, 
perhaps, the most powerful in the eastern hemisphere, by one 
of its provinces, is very remarkable for its calm language, mi- 
nute details, and great precision. It indicates the great dignity 
and the exalted patriotism of the Provincial Congress, and, at 
the same time, is demonstrative of a consciousness, that the jus- 
tice of their cause did not admit of a doubt. The contrast ex- 
hibited by the king's spoeeh, and the Parliamentary proceedings 
of the same period, is equally remarkable. In them, violent de- 
nunciations indicate the tumult and rage of unprincipled men, 

* Holmes's Annals, Vol. II. t Heath's Memoirs. 

2 



10 



conscious, that they were exerting a mighty force in a wicked 
and infamous cause. 

The immediate cause, then, of the Battle of Lexington, was 
the attempt of the British troops to carry into execution these 
arbitrary and detestable laws, directly^ by seizing the persons of 
some eminent patriots, and indirectly, by destroying the Provin- 
cial stores. The issue, for the trial of which the appeal to arms 
was finally made, was, whether tbe British king and his soldiers 
should take the lives of our citizens at their plea'^ure. 

The town of Lexington is about twelve miles north-west of 
Boston, and six miles south-east of Concord. It was originally a 
part of Cambridge, and, previous to its separation from that town, 
was called the " Cambridge Farms." The act of incorporation 
bears date March 20, 1712. The inhabitants consist principally of 
hardy and independent yeomanry. In 1775, the list of enrolled 
militia bore the names of over one hundred citizens. 

The road leading from Boston divides near the centre of the 
village in Lexington. The part leading to Concord passes to the 
left, and that leading to Bedford to the right of the meeting- 
house, and form two sides of a triangular green or common, 
on the south corner of which stands the meeting-house, 
facing directly down the road leading to Boston. The road 
is perfectly straight for about one hundred rods below the 
meeting-house, and nearly level. The common is a pleasant, 
level green, containing about two acres, surrounded by trees, 
having, on the left, a gently rising knoll, on which stands a monu- 
ment, of granite, " erected by the town in 1799, under the 
patronage and at the expense of the Commonwealth," and bears 
the names of those who " fell the first victims to the sword " of 
British aggression, on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775. 
The meeting-house, which was built in 1794, stands about twenty 
feet north of the ground, on which the former house stood. At 
the right of the m.eeting-house, and separated from it by the road 
leading to Bedford, stands the tavern house, late Buckman's, 
now Meriara's. On the north side of the green, in the rear of the 
meeting-house, at about twenty rods distant, are a number of 
buildings, standing nearly on a line, which forms the northern 
boundary of the common. North of these is a tract of low, 



11 



swampy ground ; behind which the land becomes hilly. The 
other grovmds in the neighbourhood of the village are billy and 
broken. 

At a very early period of those controversies with the mother 
country, which preceded the revolutionary war, the inhabitants 
of Lexington took a firm and decided stand in favour of the 
rights and liberties of the province. On all questions, which 
agitated the publiek mind, they unanimously acted with prompt- 
ness and energy. Earnest in their professions of attachment to 
the common cause, they cheerfully made every sacrifice, which 
the common good required. Their pastor, the late Rev. Jonas 
Clark, had been their minister from the year 1755. His alli- 
ance, by marriage, to the family of John Hancock* led to an 
intimacy between them, which subsisted as long as Gov. Han- 
cock lived. To this circumstance may, in some measure, be at- 
tributed the early participation, as well as the firm and spirited 
patriotism manifested by Mr. Clark, on all subjects connected 
with the liberty and independence of the country. Few men 
could appeal to the hearts or understandings of their hearers 
with better effect ; and no clergyman did more to strengthen the 
hands and encourage the hearts of his people. To a mind well 
endowed with practical knowledge, Mr. Clark joined an unusual 
share of well directed zeal, and an ardency of character, which 
would have gained him distinction in a sphere much more ele- 
vated than the one, in which he was destined to move. His 
spirited eloquence was employed, on all proper occasions, in 
rousing his hearers to a sense of the dangers, which threatened 
their libeyties, and in urging them to the adoption of measures, 
which might either avert, or enable them to meet without dis- 
may the impending crisis. 

The records of the town of Lexington furnish ample and 
honourable testimony of the interest which was felt, and the 
zeal with which the inhabitants participated in those important 

* Mrs. Clark's mother was the sister of Gov. Hancock, The Rev. 
John Hancock, grandfather of Gov. Hancock, Avas the immediate pre- 
decessor of Mr. Chirk, in the ministry, at Lexington. His eldest son, 
the Rev. John Hancock of Braintree, a highly accomplished preacher, 
was father of the governour. 



12 



pulilick measure.s, wliicli resulted in our glorious revolution. 
In 1765, the ii)bal)itan(s, in puLlick town meeting, unanimously 
expressed their disapprobation of the stamp act. They com- 
plained, " that it was unequal, unjust, and imposing a yoke upon 
them too heavy to be borne, — a direct violation of the rights and 
privileges secured to them by the charter." At tlie same time, 
they instructed their "representative in the Great and General 
Court not to encourage, aid or assist in the execution of said act; 
but to endeavour, as far as consistent with allegiance and duty to 
their liglitful sovereign, by all calm and dispassionate, but with 
film, explicit and resolute measures, to assert their charter rights 
and privileges; and to have the same so entered upon record, 
that the world might see, and future generations know, that the 
present both knew and valued their lights, and did not tamely 
resign them for chains and slavery." 

At a publick meeting of the inhabitants of the town, in 17G8, 
called for the purpose of taking into consideration the distressing 
situation of the province, after rec'.ting the charter of William 
and Maiy, by wliich all the rights and immunities of free and 
natural suljects, which were enjoyed by those born within the 
realm of England, were granted to the inhabitants of this pro- 
vince, and that the General Court therein constituted have the 
sole right to impose all taxes necessary for the support of his 
majesty's government of the province, and the protection of his 
subjects th(!!rein, it was resolved, "that the attempt of the 
Biidsh Parliament to levy money within this province, in any 
other manner than is pointed out by the said royal chaiter, is a 
violation thereof." They protested against the right of the king 
or Parliament to tax them, except by their own consent, or by 
representatives of their own free election ; or to maintain stand- 
ing armies among them in time of peace. At the same time, 
they made choice of a suitable person " to join such as were, or 
might be, sent from the several towns in the province, to consult 
and advise what might be best for the publick good at that criti- 
cal juncture." 

In December, 1772, they earnestly recommended to their 
representative in " the Great Court of Inquest for the Province," 
" to use his utmost influence, by all impartial and dispassionate 



13 



measures, to effect a radical and lasting redress of their grievan- 
ces, so that, whether successful or not, succeeding generations 
niiglit know, that they understood their rights and liberties, and 
were neither ashamed nor afraid to assert and maintain them ; 
and that they might have the consolation, in their chains, tliat it 
was not througli their neglect, that the people were enslaved." 

In December, 1773, the town unanimously resolved, that 
they would not, either directly or indirectly, be concerned iu 
buying, selling or using any of the teas sent out by the East 
India Company, or that should be imported, subject to a duty 
imposed by an act of Parliament made for the purpose of raising 
a revenue in Ameiica j and that if any head of a family in that 
town, or any other person, should, from that time forth, or until 
the duty was taken off, purchase, use or consume any tea in their 
families, they should be treated with neglect and contempt. 

During the year 1774, numerous town meetings were held, at 
which it was "voted to renew and increase the town's stock of 
ammunition ;" to encourage military discipline, and to put 
themselves in a posture of defence against their enemies." It 
was expected, at this time, that the British Parliament would 
soon attempt to enforce their arbitrary and tyrannical law, 
passed as before stated, " for the better regulation of the govern- 
ment of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay." The "train- 
ing band" and " alarm list" were desired to meet on the 12th 
December, 1774, to receive arms and ammunition, which had 
been provided at the expense of the town ; and, on the 28th De- 
cember, it was voted to supply the " training soldiers" with 
bayonets. 

By these spiiited, but cool and dispassionate measures, the 
town of Lexington manifested their hatred to oppression, and 
their devotcdness to the cause of liberty. Their proceedings 
in town meetings were succeeded by deliberate preparations to 
resist the encroachments of aibitrary power ; till at length they 
came to the resolute determination, as their last and only resort, 
to defend their rights at the point of the bayonet. 

Tlie Provincial Congress had been in session for some time 
at Concord, and were about adjourning, on the 30th March, '75, 



14 



when some representations, made by tbose, wbo had suffered by 
the depredations of the British troops, on their recent excursion 
to Jamaica Plains, kept them together until the 2d of April.* 
On that day, they received information, by an arrival from Fal- 
mouth in England, of the obnoxious proceedings of the king and 
Parliament on the 9th of Febraary. This information was com- 
municated to the people before the governour had received his 
despatches, which were brought by the vessel from Falmouth. 
From some intimations, contained in an intercepted letter, by 
the same vessel, from a Mr. Manduit in England to Commissary 
Hallowell, it was reported, that some of the leading patriots of 
the province were to be seized and tried under the provisions 
of that wicked and sanguinary law of February, 1774, by which 
the lives of our best citizens might be taken in a manner embrac- 
ing the form of a trial, but, in fact, a mere judicial mockery. The 
people of the province, then, were reduced to the alternative of 
open hostilities, or cruel and abject slavery. Freemen, who knew 
and valued their privileges, 4id not hesitate as to the course to 
be pursued. They had been exhorted at trainings, and from the 
sacred desk, to defend their constitutional rights, and to fight 
mmifulJy in the cause of " God and their country ^ 

John Hancock and Samuel Adams were at this time attend- 
ing the Provincial Congress. The active and inflexible patriot- 
ism of these friends to liberty, had exposed them to the severe 
animadversions of men in power. In consequence of the recent 
measures of the king and Parliament, they were persuaded by 
their friends not to return to Boston immediately after the ter- 
mination of the session. They had passed their nights, during 
the session, at the house of the Rev. Mr. Clark in Lexington ; 
and they tarried there from the time it closed until the morning 
of the 19th of April. 

Under a pretence of teaching the grenadiers and light in- 
fantry a new mode of exercising, Gen. Gage had detached 
about eight hvindred of these from the main body of his troops, 
and marched them to another part of the town of Boston. The 
real object of this movement was, however, suspected by Gen. 

* Gordou's Letter. 



15 

Warren, and immediately communicated to his friends in the 
neighbouring country towns. This took place a few days before 
they marched for Concord. 

In the afternoon of the 18th, Gen. Gage sent out a number of 
his officers, a part of them through Hoxbury, and a part over the 
ferry, through Charlestown, to reconnoitre and watch the move- 
ments of the people, and, at a proper time, to seize and detain all 
persons on the road, whom they might suspect of being engaged 
in carrying intelligence of the intended march of his troops to 
Concord. Solomon Brown, of Lexington, who had been to 
market at Boston on the 18th, returned late in the afternoon, 
and informed Col. William Munroe, then an orderly sergeant of 
the militia company, that he had seen nine British officers, 
dressed in blue great coats, passing leisurely up the road, some- 
times before and sometimes behind him, armed, as he had dis- 
covered by the occasional blowing aside of their great coats. 
Munroe, suspecting their intention was to seize Hancock and 
Adams, immediately collected a guaid of eight men, well armed 
and equipped, and placed them, with himself at their head, at the 
house of Mr. Clark, which was about a quarter of a mile from 
the main road leading to Concord. The Committee of Safety, 
then in session in the westerly part of Cambridge, also sent in- 
formation to Hancock and Adams of the approach of these 
officers. They passed through town early in the evening on the 
road to Concord. 

Small parties of British officers, in the spring of that year, 
had frequently been seen making excursions into the country, 
early in the day, and returning before evening. But the unu- 
sually late hour of their passing up, at this time, excited the at- 
tention of the citizens, and drew together, at an early hour of 
the evening, about thirty of the militia, well armed, and ready 
for any emergency, to which the critical and alarming state 
of things might suddenly call them. It bad been currently 
reported, that the British had threatened, that Hancock and 
Adams should not stay at Lexington ; and it was generally be- 
lieved to be the object of the officers, who had passed up, to 
return secretly, at a late hour of the night, and seize and carry 
them to Boston. After some consultation, it was concluded 



16 



by the persons present to send three of their number, Saunders, 
Brown, and Loring, toward Concord, to watcli the Biiiish offi- 
cers, and endeavour to ascertain and give information of their 
movements. In the borders of Lincoln, the whole three were 
taken prisoners by the British officers, who were paraded across 
the road. During the time they held our men in custody, they 
took two other prisoners. Col. Paul Revere, and one Allen, a 
one-handed jiedlar. Shortly after they released x\llon. Tliey 
also attempted to stop a young man, by the naine of Prescott, 
belonging to Concord ; but, being well mounted, he turned from 
the road into the field, and, putting spurs to his horse, escaped. 
Several of the officers pursued, but could not overtake him. 

At about ten o'clock in the evening of the 18th, a detach- 
ment of British troops, consisting of grenadiers and light infan- 
try, in all about eight hundred, embarked from Boston in boats, 
and landed at Lechmeie's Point in Cambridge, just as the moon 
rose. To prevent discovery, they took a by-path leading to the 
main road, which obliged them to wade through marshy places 
and water to a considerable depth. 

Soon after these troops had left, sentinels were posted at every 
avenue of the town, to prevent carrying the intelligence of their 
march into the country. Previously, however, Gen. "Warren, 
ever watchful and active in deviling, as he was undaunted in 
executing, the best measures for the saf(>ty of the country, had 
despatched two messengers, Col. Paul Kevere and a Mr. Lin- 
coln, with information to Hancock and Adams. Revere passed 
over the ferry to Charlestown, procured a horse of the late 
Deacon Larkin, and rode with 'all speed to Lexington, where he 
arrived a little after midnight. The family of Mr. Clark had re- 
tired to rest. On the arrival of Revere, he was hailed by the 
guard, and stopped. He desii-cd to be admitted to the house. 
IMunroe, not knowing him, nor the object of his errand, refused to 
lot him pass, stating, that the family had just retired to rest, 
and had desired, that they might not be disturbed by any noise 
about the house. "Noise!" said Revere, "you'll soon have a 
noise, that will disturb you all. The British troops are on their 
march, and will soon be among you." He passed without fur- 
ther ceremony, and knocked at the door. Mr. Clark immedi- 



17 

ately opened a window, and inc[aired wbe was there. Revere, 
without replying to the question, said he wished to see Mr. 
Hancock. Mr. Clark, with his usual deliberation, was going on 
to observe, that it was a critical time, and he did not like to 
admit people into his house, at that lime of night, without first 
knowing their business, when Hancock, who had retired to rest, 
but not to sleep, knew Revere's voice, and cried out, " Corae in, 
Revere; we are not afraid of you." Shortly after, Mr. Lincoln, 
who had come by the way of Roxbury, arrived. They both 
brought written communications from Gen. Warren, " That a 
large body of the king's troops, (supposed to be a brigade of 
twelve or fifteen hundred,) were embarked in boats from Boston, 
and gone over to Lechmere's Point in Cambridge, and it was 
suspected, they were ordered to seize and destroy the stores 
belonging to the colony, then deposited at Concord." 

It was immediately decided to alarm the militia ; and a num- 
ber of the guard were sent ofi" for that purpose. Two of their 
number went toward Cambridge, to ascertain the movements of 
the troops. For the better security of the persons of Hancock 
and Adams, they were advised to retire to the house of a Mr. 
Reed, at the north part of the town. To this Hancock objected 
in the strongest terms, decl ring, " it never should be said of 
him, that he had turned his back upon the British." His preser- 
vation was urged to be of the utmost importance to the country, 
and, being destitute of arms, he could do but little in opposing the 
British troops. He, at length, very reluctantly consented, and 
Col. Munroe conducted him, in company with Adams, about 
two niiles to the northward of Mr. Clark's. Revere set off for 
Concord to alarm the people of that town, but was taken 
prisoner by the British ofiicers, as before stated, near Brooks's in 
Lincoln. They examined him very closely, — asked many 
questions, to all of which he gave evasive answers. They de- 
tained him, with the other three prisoners from Lexington, till 
near three o'clock in the morning, when, finding no prospect of 
escape, Revere, in his turn, attempted to frighten them, by telling 
them, in a very triumphant tone of voice, " Gentlemen, you 
have missed your aim. I left Boston after your troops had 
landed at Lechmere's Point, and if I had not been certain, that 
3 



18 



the people, to the distance of fifty miles into the country, had 
been notified of your movements, I would have risked one shot, 
before you should have taken me." Another told them, "The 
bell's ringing, the country is alarmed, and you are all dead 
men." This appeared, in some measure, to alarm the officers. 
After a few moments' consultation among themselves, they set 
off on their return to Lexington, keeping possession of their four 
prisoners, till within a short distance of the meeting-house, when 
they halted, and ordered their prisoners to dismount, and then, 
after cutting in pieces the bridles and saddles of the horses, on 
which the prisoners rode, they abandoned them, and rode off at 
full gallop toward Boston. 

The alarm had spread so rapidly through Lexington, that, by 
two o'clock in the morning, the millfia company had nearly all 
assembled. Capt, Parker ordered the roll to be called, and 
every man to charge his gun with powder and ball. After re- 
maining on parade for some time, one of the messengers, who 
had been sent toward Boston, returned and reported, he could 
not learn that the regulars were coming This raised some 
doubt as to the correctness of the account brought by Revere, 
and, the weather being cool, the company were dismissed, with 
orders to appear again at the beat of the drum. Some of them, 
whose houses were in the immediate neighbourhood of the place 
of parade, went home; but the greater part of the company 
went into Buckman's tavern, near the meeting-house. 

The march of the British troops was silent and rapid. One 
of the messengers, sent by our people to ascertain if they were 
coming, was surprised before h» was aware of their approach, 
and taken prisoner in Cambridge.* They thus continued their 
march undiscovered, taking and detaining as prisoners every 
person they met with on the road, till they had arrived within a 
mile and a half of Lexington meeting-house. In order to se- 
cure persons travelling upon the road, they would send two 
soldiers at a considerable distance in advance of the main body, 
with orders to secrete themselves, one on each side of the road, 
and when any one approached, they would allow him to pass 

* Rev. Mr. Clark's Narrative. 



19 

them, so as to get between them and the troops, and then rise 
and close upon him. In this way they had taken a number of 
our men, who had been sent to get information of their approach. 
Thaddeus Bowman, the last one sent on this business, was 
riding pretty rapidly down the road, and had proceeded about a 
mile and a half, when his horse became suddenly frightened, 
stopped, and refused to go forward. In a moment he discovered 
the cause. Two British soldiers were perceived just ahead, 
sitting on opposite sides of the way, close to the fence. It was 
then day-light. While Bowman was unsuccessfully endeavour- 
ing, by all the means of whip and spur, to urge his horse forward, 
not conceiving of their plan to entrap him, he caught a glimpse 
of the main body of the British troops, then about twenty rods 
off. He instantly turned his horse, and rode with all possible 
speed to the meeting-house, and gave Capt. Parker the first cer- 
tain intelligence of the approach of the king's troops. About 
the same time that Bowman discovered them, a flanking party 
made prisoner of Benjamin Wellington, who was within about 
ten rods of the main road, on his way to join the company at the 
meeting-house. They took his arms from him, and, on his promise 
to return home, he was released. Wellington, however, took 
a cross route to the meeting-house, and reached there soon after 
Bowman. There was no longer any doubt, that the regulars 
were coming. Capt. Parker ordered alarm guns to be fired, and 
the drum beat to arms. The orderly sergeant, William Munroe, 
was ordered to parade the men in two ranks a few rods north of 
the meeting-house. Sixty or seventy had joined the ranks. At a 
little before five o'clock in the morning, the enemy appeared, at 
the distance of eighty or a hundred rods from our line. Hearing 
the drum beat to arms, and supposing it to be a challenge,"^ and 
seeing the militia parading in arms, they were ordered to halt, 
charge their guns, double their ranks, and then to march at 
double quick time. 

That so small a number of raw and inexperienced militia 
should have been, in some degree, appalled at the formidable ap- 
pearance made by eight hundred regular troops,t is not surpris- 

* Appendix, No. 2. 
t Then supposed to be twelve or fifteen hundred. 



20 



ing. Some of Capt. Parker's inen, seeing tlie "British load their 
muskets, and noticing their quiclc movements, showed an inclina- 
tion to quit the ranks; on which the captain gave orders for 
every man to stand his ground, and said he would order the first 
man shot, who should leave his post.* Others expressed their 
determination "never to run." At the same time, they were 
strictly ordered by Capt. Parker not to fire, unless they were 
attacked by the enemy. The Briti.^h troops came up shouting, 
and almost upon a run, till within about ten rods of our line. 
Their commander, Lieut. Col. Smith, advanced a few rods, and 
exclaimed, " Lay down your arms and disperse, you damned 
rebels! — Rush on my hoys! — Fire!'' and fired his own pistol. 
The order to fire not being instantly obeyed, he again called out, 
brandishing his sword with great fury, " Fire, G — d damn you ! 
fire !" The first platoon then fired over the heads of our men. 
Col. Smith repeating his order to " fire," a general discharge 
from the front ranks was made directly into the American ranks. 
On receiving the fire of the fiist platoon, the Provincials imagin- 
ed the regulars had fired nothing but powder, and did not oflf^r 
to return it ; but, on the second discharge, seeing some of their 
numbers fall, and others wounded, they no longer hesitated as 
to their right to resist, and some of them immediately returned 
the fire. Jonas Parker, John Munroe, and Ebenezer Munroe, Jun. 
and some others, fired, before leaving the line. At the same 
time, Solomon Brown, who was not enrolled in the militia, was 
seen to fire from a wall near the left of our line, and another 
person was seen to fire from the back door of Bucknian's house. 
These and some others fired, immediately on receiving the 
second fire from the British. Jonas Parker placed his ammuni- 
tion in his hat, upon the ground, between his feet. He was 
wounded and fell on the second fire from the enemy. After 
this, he discharged his piece, and even attempted to load a 
second time. He had been frequently heard to say, he "would 
never run from the British troops." He redeemed his pledge, 
though with the price of his life. While attempUng to load his 
piece a second time, the British soldiers came up, and run him 

* Appendix, No. 8 



21 

through with the bayonet. Ebenezcr Munroe, Jun. aimed and 
fired, after receiving one ball through his arm ; another had grazed 
his cheek, and a third passed between his arm and body, marking 
his coat. John Munroe, after having fired, retreated a few rods, 
loaded his piece a second time with two balls, and discharged it 
at the enemy. One of our men was seen firing from Buckraan's 
front door. The effects of the fire returned at him by the enemy 
are now visible on the sides of t! e door. Nathan Munroe, Lieut. 
Benjamin Tidd, and others, retreated a short distance, and fired. 
The regulars continued to fire as long as they could see a man 
of Capt. Parker's company in ai'ms. Jonas Parker, Isaac Muzzy, 
Jonathan Harrington, and Robert Munroe, were killed on the 
common, on and near where our line was formed ; Samuel 
Hadley and John Brown, after they had gotten off" the common. 
Asahel Porter, of Woburn, who had been taken prisoner by the 
British on their march to Lexington, attempted at this time to 
make his escape, and was shot within a few rods of the common. 
Caleb Harrington, who, with three others, had gone into the 
meeting-house for the purpose of replenishing their stock of 
powder, just before tlie British troops came up, was killed on 
attempting to run from the house.* 

Joshua Simonds was one of the four, that went into the 
meeting-liouse for the above purpose. They had succeeded in 
getting down two quarter casks of powder from the upper loft 
into the first gallery, and had taken out the head of one of them, 
when the troops arrived in front of the house. Harrington and 
Comie determined to hazard an attempt to escape. The third 
secreted himself in the opposite gallery. Simonds cocked his 
gun, and, laying down, placed the muzzle of it on the open cask 
of powder, determining, as he afterward frequently declared, .to 
blow up the house, in case any of the regulars had come into the 
gallery. 

The British suffered but little from the fire of the Ameri- 

* Jolin Robbin', Solomon Pierce, John Tidil, Joseph Comic, Ebe- 
.nczcr Munroe, Thomas Winship, Nathaniel Farmer, Jcdidiah Munroe, 
and Prince Estabrook, were wounded by the fire from the British in the 
morning. Jedidiah Munroe, thougli wounded in the morning, followed 
the enemy on their retreat, and was killed in the afternoon. 



22 

cans. One of the tenth regiment of their light troops was 
•wounded by a shot through the leg, and another was wounded in 
the hand.* When Munroe and others fired from the line, where 
our militia were drawn up, they could not discern the enemy 
by reason of the smoke. Solomon Brown and the person seen 
to fire from Buckman's back door were on the right of the 
British troops as they came up, and so situated as to have a dis- 
tinct view of them, after they fired. Brown was seen to take 
aim, and, probably, gave the wound received by the regular of the 
tenth regiment, as bloodf was distinctly seen upon the ground, 
soon after the battle, a few rods south of the meeting-house, 
where the main column of the enemy stood when the Americans 
fired, and in the direction, in which Brown was seen to aim his 
piece. 

Some of our militia retreated up the road leading to Bedford, 
but most of them across a swamp, to a rising ground north 
of the common. The buildings and fences, on the north side of 
the common, aflTorded shelter, to a few, from the destructive fire 
of the enemy. As soon as the Lexington company had dispers- 
ed, and the firing ceased, the British troops drew up on the 
common, fired a volley, and gave three huzzas in token of victo- 
ry. They then marched on for Concord, the next village, about 
six miles beyond, where they arrived without further opposition. 
Some of the Americans, who had not withdrawn at a great dis- 
tance, were on the battle ground immediately after the enemy 
took up their march for Concord, and made prisoners of six re- 
gulars, $ who were in the rear of the main body. They were 

* Hist. Coll. Vol. IV. Sec. Series, and Ebenezer Munroe's affidavit, 
t Appendix, Nos. 1 and 9. 

t The king's troops were delayed at Lexington from twenty to thir- 
ty minutes. While there, it is supposed, these six of their soldiers, who 
were taken prisoners, had gone into some of the houses in the village, 
and were left beliind by the main body. Tiiey were not in a body 
when taken, not more than two being taken together. They were all 
taken within half an hour after the main body of the enemy had left the 
common. That there were prisoners taken on the morning of the 19th, ' 
does not admit of a doubt. The fact, that the number of six were taken, 
rests upon the affidavit of James Reed of Burlington, an intelligent and 



23 



disarmed, and put under guard, and conducted to Woburn Pre- 
cinct, now Burlington ; thence tliey -were taken to Chelmsford. 

The Lexington company of militia, assembled on this trying 
occasion, had little time to deliberate. They had not the advan- 
tage of any special order or direction from any superior officer. 
They knew it would not be right for them to commence the at- 
tack upon the British ; yet they felt it a duty to be in arms, 
to resist the execution of those obnoxious and wicked laws, by 
which they were to be deprived of rights, held dearer than life. 
Kegardless of the event, as to themselves, they thought it was 
required of them to raise the standard of opposition. Thus situ- 
ated, the occasion seemed to call them to be oflPered an unre- 
sisting sacrifice for the publick good. History affords few exam- 
ples of men, called upon by their country to give such a sangui- 
nary proof of unyielding courage and disinterested virtue. Yet 
these gallant men showed themselves equal to this great trial. 
Their purpose was accomplished. The " mighty struggle" was 
begun.* 

The report of the bloody transaction at Lexington was 
spreading in every direction with the rapidity of a whirlwind. 
The people were seen, in arms, moving swiftly to the scene of 
action. 

The alarm reached Concord about the hour of four in the 
morning. The time was diligently improved by the inhabitants 
in removing and concealing the publick stores. When the ene- 
my approached the town, the Americans then collected retired 



respectable farmer, of substantial, correct character, and of unquestiona- 
ble veracity. See afiSdavits of John Munroe, Ebenezer Munroe, and 
James Reed, in the Appendix. 

* Gordon, Botta, Lendrum, Holmes, and others, expressly assert, 
that, at the first attack of the British troops at Lexington, some of the 
Americans returned their fire. All other historians, within the know- 
ledge of the writer, impliedly assert the fact of there having been firing 
on the part of the Americans. The writer kno\ys of no historian, who 
has described the events of that day, except Mr. Bradford, in his late 
History of Massachusetts, that has asserted, that the Americans, on be- 
ing "ordered" by the British commander "to disperse, did immedi- 
ately retire." 



24 



across the north bridge to the high ground beyond it, and there 
waited for reinforcements from the adjacent country. 

The enemy halted near the meeting-house, sent parties of 
troops to vaiious places in the town in search of publick stores, 
and detached one hundred men to take possession of the bridge, 
over which the militia had retreated. 

Concord Iliver, with a slow current, flows along the north- 
westerly and northerly side of the village, at a short distance 
from the houses. The north bridge was about half a mile from 
the meeting-house to the north. The left bank of the river con- 
sists of level, wet ground. From the bridge the road was a 
causeway, leading westerly over the wet grounds toward Acton. 
The road from the hills, where the Americans were stationed, 
ran southerly, till it 'met the causeway at right angles. This 
bridge across the river was long since taken away ; the abut- 
ments and causeway, however, are still to be seen. 

The Provincial militia, on the hills, perceiving the British 
troops attempting to remove the planks from the bridge, were 
encouraged by the brave Col. Robinson and Maj. Buttrick to ad- 
vance, with orders not to fire, unless fired upon. They accord- 
ingly marched toward the bridge with drums beating, the Acton 
company, commanded by Capt. Davis, marching at the head, of the 
column, led on by Robinson, Buttrick and Davis. This compa- 
ny exhibited a noble self-devotedness, equal to that, which, on 
the same morning, had been displayed by the Lexington compa- 
ny, under circumstances peculiarly trying to the bravest men. 
They had not then received intelligence of the events at Lexing- 
ton, and, in their apprehension, the state of things required, that, 
for the publick good, they must expose themselves to the enemy's 
fire. 

The British troops had formed on the right bank of the river, 
and, when the Americans had advanced sufficiently near, they 
fired across it, and Capt. Davis and one of his men were in- 
stantly killed, and several wounded. The Americans returned 
the fire with effect, killing two, and wounding several others. 
They then rushed across the bridge, and drove the enemy back, 
till they were met by a reinforcement. They then took a posi- 



25 



tion on a hill north of the village, where other Provincials were 
continually joining them. 

The king's troops, having effected but in part their object, 
in the destruction of publick property,* retreated in great haste 
about noon. As the rear of their column entered on a causeway, 
leading over a meadow, a little to the eastward of the village, 
they received a heavy fire from the Reading minute men, under 
Capt. John Brooks. t 

The Americans, who had by this time collected in considera- 
ble numbers, pressed upon the l^ritish troops with great fury, 
and kept up a constant and well directed fire from every favour- 
able position. Such positions occurred very frequently, the road 
from Concord to Lexington being very hilly and crooked, and 
having, at that time, many forests and thickets near it. The 
enemy returned the fire of the Americans, but without much ef- 
fect. In Lincoln they were met by the Lexington company un- 
der Capt. Parker, who had collected most of his men, and was 
proceeding to Concord. Capt. Parker turned aside into the 
fields, and, as the enemy passed, they were exposed to a most 
galling and deadly fire from his greatly exasperated men. The 
pursuers had now mustered in such numbers, and hung so close 
upon their rear, that the British officers could with difficulty 
preserve the order of their troops. All was hurry and confusion ; 
and so entirely were they exhausted, they must, no doubt, have 
soon surrendered to the victorious Americans, had they not been 
met at Lexington by a reinforcement, consisting of a thousand 
fresh troops, with two field pieces, under Lord Percy. The 
retreating troops halted a mile below the meeting-house, and, 
having taken some refreshment, they proceeded, under cover of 



* While at Concord, the enemy disabled two twenty-four pounders, 
destroying their carriages, wheels and limbers; sixteen wheels for brass 
three pounders ; two carriages, with wheels, for two four pounders ; about 
five hundred weight of balls, which they tlirew into the river and wells; 
and stove about sixty barrels of flour, one half of which was afterward 
saved. Gordon's Account. 

t Afterward Gov. Brooks. 



26 



their field pieces, to plunder, bum and destroy buildings and 
property in that part of the town.* 

After having dressed their wounded,! the king's troops re- 
sumed their retreat toward Boston. No sooner were they in 
motion, than the Americans again pressed upon them, with a 
still more furious and intrepid attack. The Lexington company, 
with unabated ardour, joined in the pursuit, and the firing on 
both sides, with little or no intermission, continued until the 
enemy ascended Bunker Hill at the close of the day. 



* A dwelling liouse and barn belonging to Deacon Loring, Mrs. 
Lydia MuUikcn's house, and her son's shop, and a house and shop of Mr. 
Joshua Bond, were laid in ashes. Several other buildings were set on 
fire, but the flames were fortunately extinguished after the enemy left. 
Property to a considerable amount, consisting of clothing, furniture, 
provisions, &c. were wantonly destroyed. Mr. Clark's Narrative. 

t William Munroe's aflSdavit. 



27 



The folloioing is a correct List of the Provincials, who were 
killed, wounded and missing in the Action of the l^th of 
April, and the towns to xohich they respectively belonged. 



LEXINGTON. 

Jonas Parker, 

Robert Munroe, 

Samuel Had ley, 

J onatban Harrington, Jun. 

Isaac Muzzy, 

Caleb Harrington, 

Jobn Brown, 

Jedidiah Munroe, 

Jobn Eaymond, 

Natbaniel Wyman, 

Jobn Robbins, 

Solomon Pierce, 

Jobn Tidd, 

Josepb Comie, 

Ebenczer IMunroe, Jun. 

Tbomas Winsbip, 

Natbaniel Farmer, 

Prince Estabrook (colored) 

Jedidiab Munroe, 

Francis Brown, loounded in the afternoon. 

CAMBRIDGE. 



Killed in th 
Morning. 



Killed in the 
Afternoon 



Wounded in 
the Morning. 



William Marcy, 
Moses Ricbardson, 
Jobn Hicks, 
Jason Russell, 
Jabisb Wyman, 
Jason Winsbip, 
Samuel Wbittemore, 
Samuel Frost, 
Seth Russell, 



CONCORD. 



Cbarles Miles, 
Natban Barnet, 
Abel Prescott, 



Killed. 

Wounded. 
Missing. 



Wounded. 



Killed. Wound. Missing. 



28 



NEEDHAM. 



Lieut. John Bourn, 

Elisha Mills, 
Amos Mills, 
Nathaniel Chamberlain, 
Jonathan Parker, 
Eleazer Kingsbury, 
Tolman, 



Killed. 



> Wounded. 



SUDBURY. 



Josiah Haynes, 
Asahel Reed, 
Joshua Haynes, Jun. 



I Killed 



ACTON. 



Capt. Isaac Davis, 
Abner Hosmer, 
James Heywood,* 



BEDFORD. 



Jonathan Wilson, 
Job Lane, 



WOBURN. 



Asahel Porter, 
Daniel Thompson, 
George Reed, 
Jacob Bacon, 
Johnson, 



Wounded. 



Killed. 



Killed. 
Wounded. 



Killed. 



Wounded. 



MEDFORD. 



Henry Putnam, 
William Polly, 



KiUed. 
CHARLESTOWN. 



James Miller, 
C. Barber's son. 



Killed. 



Killed. 



Wound. Missing, 



* Killed in Lexington, at the house formerly owned by Benjamin 
Fisk. He was coming to the house, and met a British soldier coming 
out. They both took aim and fired, and both fell. 



29 



WATERTOWN. 


KiUed. 


Wound. 


Josepli Coolidgc, imed. 


1 




FRAMINGHAM. 






Daniel Hemenway, Wounded. 




1 


DEDHAM. 






Elias Haven, Killed. 
Israel Everett, Wounded. 


1 


1 


STOW. 






Daniel Conant, Wounded. 




1 


ROXBURY. 






Elijah Seaver, Missing. 






BROOKLINE. 






Isaac Gardner, Esq. Killed. 


1 




BILLERICA. 






Su'^Schard. } ^-»'"^- 




2 


CHELMSFORD. 






OH™ "*•''• } ''^-»«- 




2 


SALEM. 






Benjamin Pierce, Killed. 


1 




NEWTON. 






Noah Wiswall, Wounded. 




1 


DANVERS. 






Henry Jacobs, 
Samuel Cook, 
Ebenezer Goldthwait, 
George Southwick, 
Benjiimin Daland, 
Jotham Webb, 
Perley Putnam, 


> Killed. 


7 





Missing. 



30 



Nathan Putnam, 
Dennis ^\'^allacc, 
Joseph Bell, 



>■ Wounded. 
Missing. 



BEVERLY. 



Reuben Kenyme, 
Nathaniel Clcvcs, 
Samuel Woodbury, 
William Dodge, od, 



LYNN. 



Abednep;o Ramsdell, 
Daniel Townsend, 
William Flint, 
Thomas Hadley, 
Joshua Felt, 
Timothy Munroe, 
Josiah Breed, 



Killed. 
Wounded. 



Killed. 

Wounded. 
Missing. 



Killed. 


Wound. 

2 


Missing. 




1 


1 


3 




4 


2 


1 


49 


36 


5 



Tbe enemy lost 65 killed : 180 were wounded, and 28 taken 
prisoners. Holmes'' s Annals. 



An English account, published in the Historical Collections, 
states their loss to have been 73 killed, 174 wounded, and 26 
loissino;. 



4filSr©2S. 



No. 1. 



I, Elijah Sanderson, of Salem, in the county of Essex, cabinet- 
maker, aged seventy-three years, on oath depose as follows : 

In the spring of 1775, I resided at Lexington, and had resided there 
then more than a year. In the spring of tiiat year, the officers of the 
British regular troops in Boston were frequently making excursions, in 
small parties, into the country, and often, in the early part of the day, in 
pleasant weather, passed tlirough Lexington, and usually were seen re- 
turning before evening. I lived then on the main road, about thx-ee 
quarters of a mile east of the meeting-house. 

On the evening of the 18th April, 1775, we saw a party of officers pass 
up from Boston, all dressed in blue wrappers. The unusually late hour of 
their passing excited the attention of the citizens. I took my gun and 
cartridge-box, and, thinking something must be going on more than com- 
mon, walked up to John Buckman's tavern, near the meeting-house. 
After some conversation among the citizens assembled there, an old gen- 
tleman advised, that some one should follow those officers, and endeavour 
to ascertain their object. I then observed, that, if any one would let me 
have a horse, I would go in pursuit. Thaddeus Harrington told me, I 
might take his, which was there. I took his, and Solomon Brown propos- 
ed to accompany me on his own horse. Jonathan Loring also went with 
us. We started, probably, about nine o'clock ; and we agreed, if we 
could find the officers, we would return and give information, as the fears 
were, tint tiieir object was, to come back in the night, and seize Hancock 
and Adams, and carry them into Boston. It had been rumoured, that the 
British officers had 'threatened, that Hancock and Adams should not 
stay at Lexington. They had been boarding some time at Parson Clark's. 

iVe set out in pursuit. Just before Ave got to Brooks's in Lincoln, 
while riding along, we were stopped by nine British officers, who wei-e 
paraded across the road. They were all mounted. One rode up and 
seized my bridle, and another my arm, and one put his pistol to my 
breast, and told me, if I resisted, I was a dead man. I asked, what he 
wanted. He replied, he wanted to detain me a little while. He ordered 
me to get off my horse. Several of them dismounted and threw down the 
wall, and led us into the field. They examined and questioned us where 
we were going, &c. Two of them staid in the road, and the other seven 
with us, lelieving each other IVom time to time. They detained us in 
that vicinity till a quarter past two o'clock at night. An oificcr, who 
took out his watch, informed me what the time was. It was a bright 
moon-light after the rising of the moon, and a pleasant evening. During 
our detention, they put many questions to us, which I evaded. They 
kept us separately, and treated us very civilly. They particularly in- 
quired where Hancock and Adams were; also about the population. 
One said, "You've been numbering the inhabitants, hav'n't ycl" I 
told him how many it was reported there were. One of them spoke up 



32 



and said, " There were not so many, men, women and children." They 
asked as many questions as a yankee could. 

While Ave were under detention, they took two other prisoners, one 
Allen, a one-handed pedlar, and Col. Paul Eevere ; also, they attempt- 
ed to stop a man on horseback, who, we immediately after understood, 
was Dr. Prescott's son. He was well mounted, and, after turning from 
the road into the field toward us, lie put spurs to his horse and escaped. 
Several of the officers pursued him, but could not overtake him. 

After they had taken Revere, they brought him within half a rod of 
me, and I heard him speak up with energy to them, " Gentlemen, you've 
missed of your aim !" One said, rather hardly, " What of our aim !" Re- 
vere replied, "I came out of Boston an hour after your troops had come 
out of Boston and landed at Lechmere's Point, and if I had not known 
people had been sent out to give information to the country, and time 
enough to get fifty miles, I would have ventured one shot from you, be- 
fore I would have suffered you to have stopped me." Upon this, they 
went a little aside and conversed together. They then ordered me to un- 
tie my horse, (which was tied to a little birch,) and mount. They 
kept us in the middle of the road, and rode on each side of us. We 
went toward Lexington. They took all of us, (Revere, Loring, and 
Brown, and myself.) My horse not being swift, pnd they riding at con- 
siderable speed, one of the officers pressed my horse forward, by striking 
him with his hanger. When we had arrived within fifty or one hundred 
rods of the meeting-house, Loring (as he afterwards informed me) told 
them, " The bell's a ringing, the town's alarmed, and you're all dead 
men." They then stopped— conferred together. One then dismounted, 
and ordered me to dismount, and said to me, "I must do you an injury." 
I asked, what he was going to do to me now ? He made no reply, but 
with his hanger cut my bridle and girth, and then mounted, and they 
rode in a good smart trot on toward Boston. We then turned off to pass 
through the swamp, through the mud and water, intending to arrive at 
the meeting-house before they could pass, to give information to our peo- 
ple. Just before they got to the meeting-house, they had halted, 
which led us to hope, we should get there first ; but they soon started off 
again at full speed, and we saw no more of them. 

I went to the tavern. The citizens were coming and going; some 
went down to find whether the British were coming; some came back, 
and said there was no truth in it. I went into the tavern, and, after a 
while, went to sleep in my chair by the fire. In a short time after, the 
drum beat, and I ran out to the common, where the militia were parading. 
The captain ordered them to fall in. I then fell in. 'Twas all in the ut- 
most haste. The British troops were then coming on in full sight. I had 
no musket, having sent it home, the night previous, by my brother, before 
I started for Concord ; and, reflecting I was of no use, I stepped out 
again from tlie company about two rods, and was gazing at the British, 
coming on in full career. Several mounted British officers were fonvard ; 
I think, five. The commander rode up, with his pistol in his hand, on a 
canter, the others following, to about eight or ten rods from the company, 
perhaps nearer, and ordered them to disperse. The words he used were 
harsh. I cannot remember them exactly. He then said, "Fire!" and he 
fired his own pistol, and the other officers soon fired, and with that the 
main body came up and fired, but did not take sight. They loaded again 
as soon as pos.'^ible. All was smoke when the foot fired. I heard no parti- 
cular orders after what the conmander first said. I looked, and, seeing no- 
body fall, thought to be sure they couldn't be firing balls, and I did'nt 
move off. After our militia had dispersed, I saw them firing at one man, 
(Solomon Brown,) who was stationed behind a wall. 1 saw the wall 
smoke with the bullets hitting it. I then knew they were firing balls. 



After the affair was over, he told me he fired into a solid column of them, 
and then retreated. Ho was in the cow yard. The wall saved him. He 
legged it just about the time I went away. In a minute or two after, the 
British musick struck, up, and their troops paraded, and marched right oflf 
for Concord. 

I went home after my gun, — found it was fjone. My brother liad it. I 
returned to the meeting-house, and saw to the dead. I saw blood where 
the column of the British had stood wiien Solomon Brown fired at them. 
This was several rods from where any of our militia stood; and I then 
supposed, as well as the rest of us, that that was the blood of the British. 

I assisted in carrying some of the dead into the meeting-house. 

Some days before the battle, I was conversing with Jonas Parker, who 
was killed, and heard him express his determination never to run from 
before the British troops. 

In the afternoon I saw the reinforcement come up under Lord Percy. 
I then had no musket, and retired to Estabrook's Hill, whence I saw 
the reinforcement meet the troops retreating from Concord. When they 
met, they halted some time. After this, they set fire to Deacon Loring's 
barn; then to his house; then to widow Mulliken's house; then to the 
shop of Nathaniel MuUiken, a watch and clock maker; and to the 
house and shop of Joshua Bond. All these were near the place where 
the reinforcements took refreshments. They hove fire into several other 
buildings. It was extinguished after their retreat. 

During the day, the women and children had been so scattered and 
dispersed, that most of them were out of the way when the reinforce- 
ments arrived. 

I now own the musket, which I then owned, and which my brother 
had that day, and told me he fired at the British with it. 

ELIJAH SANDERSON. 

COJniOXWEALTH OF MASSACIItTSETTS. 

Essex, ss. December \lth, 1824. — Then the above-named Elijah San- 
derson, a gentleman of truth and respectability, subscribed and made 
oath to the above-written affidavit, before 

BENJ. MERRILL, Just. Peace and Quorum. 



No. 2. 

I, William Monroe, of Lexington, on oath do testify, that I acted as 
ordeily sergeant in the company commanded by Capr. John Parker, on 
the 19th of April, 177.5; that, early in the evening of the_ 18th of the 
same ;\pril, I was informed by Solomon Brown, who had just returned 
from Boston, that he had seen nine British ofiicers on the road, travelling 
leisui-ely, sometimes before and sometimes behind him; that he had dis- 
covered, by the occasional i)lowing aside of their top coats, that they 
were armed. On learning this, I supposed they had some design upon 
Hancock and Adams, who were then at the house of the Rev. Mr. Clark, 
and immediately assembled a guard of eight men, with their arms, to 
guard the house. About midnight, Col. Paul Revere rode up and re- 
quested admittance. I told him the family had just retired, and had re- 
quested, that they might not be distui-bed by any noise about the iiouse. 
"Noise!" said he, " you'll have noise enough before long. The regulars 
are coming out." We tiicn jjcrmitted him to pass. Soon after, Mr. Lin- 
coln came. These gentlemen came different routes, lievcre came over 
the ferry to Charlestown, and Lincoln over the neck through Roxbury; 

5 



34 



and both brought letters from Dr. Warren in Boston to Hancock and 
Adiims, stating, tliat a large body of British troops had left Boston, and 
were on their march to Lexington. On this, it was thought advisable, 
that Hancock and Adams should withdraw to some distant part of the 
town. To this Hancock consented with great reluctance, and said, as 
he went off, "If I had my musket, I would never turn my back upon 
these troops." I however conducted them to the nortii part of the 
town, and then returned to the meeting-house, where I arrived at about 
two o'clock on the morning of the 19th. On the arrival of Col. Revere, 
the alarm had been given, and, on my return, I found Capt. Parker and 
bis militia company paraded on the common, a little in the rear of the 
meeting-house. About that time, one ot our messengers, who had been 
Ecnt toward Cambridge to get information of the movement of the regu- 
lars, returned and reported, that he could not Icarn, that there were any 
troops on the road irom Boston to Lexington, which raised some doubt 
as to their coming, and Capt. Parker dismissed his company, with orders 
to assemble again at the beat of the drum. Between day-light and sun- 
rise, Capt. Tiiaddeus Bowman rode up and informed, that the regulars 
were near. The drum was then ordered to be beat, and I was com- 
manded by Capt. Parker to pai-ade the company, Avhich I accordingly 
did, in two ranks, a few rods northerly of the meeting-house. 

When the British troops had arrived within about a hundred rods of 
the meeting-house, as I was afterwards told by a prisoner, which we took, 
" they heard our drum, and supposing it to be a challenge, they were 
ordered to load their muskets, and to move at double quick time." 
Tliey came up almost upon a run. Col. Smith and Maj. Pitcairn rode 
up some rods in advance of their troops, and within a lew rods of our 
company, and exclaimed, " Lay down your arms, you rebels, and dis- 
]}erse 1" and immediately fired his pistol. Pitcairn then advanced, and, 
after a moment's conversation with Col. Smith, he advanced with his 
troops, and, finding we did not disperse, they being within four rods of 
us, be brought his sword down with great force, and said to his men, 
" Fire, damn you, fire !" The front platoon, consisting of eight or nine, 
then fired, without killing or wounding any of our men. They imme- 
diately gave a second fire, when our company begun to retreat, and, as 
1 left the field, I saw a person firing at the British troops from Buckman's 
back door, which was near our left, where I was parading the men when 
I retreated. I was afterward told, of the truth of which I have no 
doubt, that the same person, after firing from the back door, went to the 
front door of Buckman's house, and fired there. How many of our 
company fired before they retreated, I cannot say ; but I am confident 
some of" them did. When the British troops came up, I saw Jonas Par- 
ker standing in the ranks, with his balls and flints in his hat, on the 
ground, between his feet, and heard him declare, that he would never 
run. He was shot down at the second fire of the British, and, when I 
left, I saw him struggling on the. ground, attempting to load his gun, 
which I have no doubt he had once dis'charged at the British. As he 
lay on the ground, they run him through with the bayonet. In the course 
of the day, I was on the ground where the British troops were when they 
first heard our drum beat, which was ahout one hundred rods below the 
meeting-house, and saw the ends of a large number, I should judge two 
hundred, of cartridges, which they had dropjjed, when they charged their 
pieces. About noon, I was at the north part of the town, at the house of 
a Mr. Simonds, where I saw the late Col. Baldwin, who informed me, 
that he had the custody of some prisoners, that had been put under his 
charge, and requested to know of me what should be done with them. 
I gave my opinion, that they should be sent to that part of Woburn, now 
Burlington, or to Chelmsford. On the leturn of the British troops from 



35 



Concord, tliey stopped at my tavern house in Lexinjiton, and dressed 
their wounded. I had left my house in the care of a lame man, l\v the 
name of Raymond, who supplied them with whatever the house afforded, 
and afterward, when he was leavinj^ the house, he was shot hy the 
regulars, and found dead within a few rods of the house. 

WILLIAM MUNROE. 

Middlesex, 1th March, 1825. — Then personally ap])eared the afore- 
said William Munroe, and made oath to the truth of the aforegoing affida- 
vit, by him subscribed, before me, 

AMOS MUZZY, Justice Peace. 



I, John Munroe, of Lexington, a collector of tolls for the Middlesex 
Turnpike, being in the seventy-seventh year of ray age, on oath do depose 
and say, that I was a corporal in the Lexington company of militia, which 
was commanded by the late Capt. John Parker, in the year 1775 ; that, 
for some weeks previous to the 19th of April of that year, the company 
was frequently called out for exercise, and desired to furnish ourselves 
with arms and ammunition, and to be in constant readiness for action. 

On the morning of the 19th, at about two o'clock, as near as I can recol- 
lect, Francis Brown, who was sergeant in the same company, called me 
out of my bed, and said, the British troops had left Boston, and were on 
their march to Lexington. I immediately repaired to the place of parade, 
which was the common, adjoining the meeting-house, where sixty 
or seventy of the company had assembled in arms. Capt. Parker 
ordered the roll to be called, and every man to load his piece with 
powder and ball. After remaining on parade some time, and there 
being no further accounts of the approach of the regulars, we were 
dismissed, but ordered to remain within call of the drum. About 
day-light, Capt. Parker had information, that a regiment of British 
troops were near, and immediately ordered the drum beat to arms. 
I took my station on the right. 'While the company were collecting, 
Capt. Parker, then on the left, gave orders for every man to stand 
his ground until he should order them to leave. Many of the company 
had withdrawn to a considerable distance, and, by the time sixty or seventy 
of them had collected, the drum still beating to arms, the front ranks of 
the British troops appeared within twelve or fifteen rods of our line. 
They continued their march to within about eight rods of us, when an 
officer on horseback, Lt. Col. Smith, who rode in front of the troops, ex- 
claimed, " Lay down your arms, and disperse, you rebels !" Finditig our 
company kept their ground, Col. Smith ordered his troops to fire. This 
order not being obeyed, he then said to them, "G — d damn you, fire!" 
The front platoon then discharged their pieces, and, another order being 
given to fire, there was a general discharge from the front ranks. After 
the first fire of the regulars, I thought, ami so stated to Ebenezer Munroe, 
Jun. who stood next to me on the left, that they had fired nothing but 
powder ; but, on the second firing, Munroe said, they had fired something 
more than powder, for he had received a wound in his arm ; and now, 
said he, to use his own words, "I'll give them the guts of my gun." We 
then both took aim at the main body of the British troops, — the smoke pre- 
venting our seeing any thing but the heads of some of their horses, — and 
discharged our pieces. After the second fire from the British troops, I 
distinctly saw Jonas Parker struggling on the ground, with his gun in his 
hand, apparently attempting to load it. In this situation the British 
came up, run him through with the bayonet, and killed him on the spot. 



36 



After I hnd fired the first time, I retreated about ten rods, and then load- 
ed my <:un a second time, ivith two balls, and, on firin<j at the British, tho 
strenfrtb of ihe cliarfic took olf about a foot of my pun barrel. 

Such was the general confusion, and so muc h firiufr on the part of the 
British, that it was iuipossihle for me to know the number of onr men, 
wlio fired immediately on receiving the second fire from tlie British 
troops ; but that some of tlicm fiied, besides Ebcnczcr Munroe and 
myself, I am very confident. The rcjrulars kept up a fire, in all directions, 
as lonjj as tliey could sec a man of our com])any in arms. Isaac Muzzy, 
Jonatiian Harrin<;ton, and my fatiier, Kobcrt Munroe, were found dead 
near the ])lace where our line was formed. Samuel Hadley and John 
Brown were killed after they liad gotten off the common. Asalicl Por- 
ter, of Woburn, who liad been taken a prisoner by the British on their 
march to Lc.Ninn^ton, attempted to make ids escape, and was shot witiiin 
a few rods of the common. Caleb Harrinp,ton was shot down on attempt- 
ins; to leave the mcctiiifi-honse, where he and some others had gone, 
before tlie British soldiers came up, for the purpose of removing a quan- 
tity of powder that was stored there. 

On the morninjr of the lOtii, two of the Biitish soldiers, who were in 
the rear of the main body of their troops, were taken prisoners and dis- 
armed by onr men, and, a little after sun-rise, they were put under the 
care of Tliomas E. Willard and myself, with orders to march them to 
"Wolnirn Precinct, now Burlington. We conducted them as far as Capt. 
James Read's, where they were put into custody of some other per- 
sons, but whom I do not now reeolleet. JOHN MUNROE. 

MiDDLESKX, ss. Dccfmhcr 2Slh, 1824. — Then the above named John 
Munroe made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, l)y hiiu sub- 
scribed, before me, 

NATHAN CHANDLER, Justice of the Peace. 

No. 4. 

I, Ebenezer Munroe, of Ashburnham, in the county of Worcester 
and commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the seventy-third year of my 
age, on oath depose and say, that I was an inhabitant of Lexington in 
the county of Middlesex in the year 1775; that, during the night of the 
18th of April of that year, I was alarmed by one Micah Nagles, who 
stated, that the British troops were on their march from Boston, and that 
Lieut. Tidd requested myself and others to meet on the common as soon 
as possible. I accordingly repaired to the common, the usual place of 
parade, where I found Cajit. Parker, and, I should think, about forty of the 
comjiany had collected. 'J"hc weather being rather chilly, after calling 
tlie roll, we were dismissed, but ordered to remain within call of the drum. 
The men generally went into the tavern adjoining the common. In the 
mean time, persons were sent toward Boston to get some intelli^cnce, if 
possible, of the regulars. The Inst person sent was Tliaddeus Bowman, 
Mho returned between day-light and sun rise, and informed Capt. Parker, 
that the British troops weic within a mile of the meeting-house. Capt. 
Parker immediately ordered the drum beat to arms. I was the fir>t that 
followed the drum. I took my station on the right of our line, whieii was 
formed from six to ten rods back of tlie meeting-house, facing south. 
About seventy of our company liad assembled when the British troops 
appeared. Scmie of our men went into tiic meeting-house, where the 
town's powder was kcjit, for the purpose of reidenisliing their stock of 
ammunition. When the regulars had arrived within eighty or one hun- 
dred rods, they, hearing our drum beat, halted, charged their guns, and 



37 



doubled their ranks, and marched up at quick step. Capt. Parker or- 
dered his men to stand their ground, and not to molest the regulars, 
unless they meddled with us. The Biitish troops came up directly in 
our front. The commanding officer advsinccd within a few rods of us, 
and exclaimed, "Disperse, you damned rebels ! you dogs, run ! — Rush on 
my boys \" nnd fiied his pistol. The fire from their front ranks soon 
followed. After the first fire, I received a wound in my arm, and then, 
as I turned to run, I discharged my gun into the main body of the enemy. 
As I fired, my face being toward them, one ball cut off a part of one of 
my ear locks, which was then pinned up. Another bull passed between 
my aim and my body, and just marked my clothes. The first fire of the 
British was regular ; after that, they fired promiscuously. As we retreat- 
ed, one of our company, Benjamin Sampson, I believe, who was riinning 
with me, turned his piece and fired. When I fired, I perfectly well recol- 
lect of taking aim at tlic regulars. The smoke, however, prevented my 
being able to see many of them. The balls flew so thick, I thought 
there was no chance ior escape, and that I might as well fire my gun as 
stand still and do nothing. I am confident, that it was the determination 
of most of our company, in case they were fired upon, to return the fire. 
I did not hear Capt. Parker's orders to his company to disperse. When 
the British came up in front of the meeting-house, Joshua Simonds was 
in the upper gallery, an open cask of powder standing near him, and he 
afterward told me, tliat he cocked his gun and placed the muzzle of it 
close to the cask of powder, and determined to "touch it off," in case the 
troops had come into the gallery. After our company had all dispersed, 
and the British had done firing, they gave three cheers. After they had 
marched off for Concord, we took two prisoners, who were considerably 
in the rear of the main body. I carried their arms into Buckman's 
tavern, and they were taken by some of our men, who had none of their 
own. I believed, at the time, that some of our shots must have done ex- 
ecution. I was afterward confirmed in this opinion, by the observations 
of some prisoners, whom we took in the aftcrncon, who stated, that one 
of their soldiers was wounded in the thigh, and that another received 
a shot through his hand. EBENEZER MUNROE. 

MiDDLKSKx, ss. 2j April, 1825. — Then personally appeared the afore- 
said Ehenezer Munroe, and made oath to the truth of the aforegoing 
statement, before me, 

STEPHEN PATCH, Justice Peace. 



I, William Tidd, of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, do 
testify and declare, that I was a lieutenant in the company of Lexington 
militia, commanded by Capt. John Pai-ker, in the year 177.5; that, pre- 
vious to the 19th of April of tliat year, it was expected the British would 
soon commence hostilities upon the then Provincials ; that said company 
frequently met for exercise, the better to be prepared for defence ; that, 
on the evening previous to the 19th, a number of the militia met at my 
house for the above purpose ; that, about two o'clock on the morning of 
tlie 19th, I was notified, that, the evening previous, several of the British 
officers had been discovered riding up and down the road leading to 
Concord ; that they had detained and insulted the passing inhalntants ; 
and that a body of the regulars were then on the march from Boston to- 
wards Lexington; — I then immediately repaired to the parade ground of 
said company, where, after its assemblage and roll call, we were dis- 
missed by Capt. Parker, with orders to assemble at the beat of the 
drum ; — that, at about five o'clock of said morning, intelligence was re- 



38 



ceived, that the British were within a short distance ; and, on the beat to 
arms, I immediately repaired to where our companj' were fast assemblins ; 
that when about sixty or seventy of them had taken post, the British 
had arrived witliin sight, and were advancing on a quick march towards 
us, when I distinctly heard one of their officers say, "Lay down your 
arms and disperse, yc rebels \" They then fired upon us. I then re- 
treated up the north road, and was pursued about thirty rods by an offi- 
cer on horseback, (supposed to be Maj. Pitcairn.) calling out to me, 
" Damn you, stop, or you are a dead man !" — 1 found I could not escape 
him, unless I left the road. Therefore I sprang over a pair of bars, made 
a stand, and discharged my gun at him; upon which he immediately re- 
turned to the main body, which shortly after took up their march for 
Concord. WILLIAM TIDD. 

Middlesex, ss. December 29, 1824. — William Tidd, aforementioned, 
personally made oath to the truth of the foregoing declaration, by him 
subscribed, before 

NATHAN CHANDLER, Justice of the Peace. 



No. 6. 

I, Nathan Munkoe, of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex and 
state of Massachusetts, do testify and say, that I was enrolled as a soldier 
in the company commanded by Capt. John Parker of said Lexington, in 
the year 1775 ; and, knowing that several British officers went up the road 
towards Concord in the evening of the 18th of April of said year, I, with 
Benjamin Tidd, at the request of my captain, went to Bedford in the 
evening, and notified the inhabitants through the town, to the great road at 
Merriam's Corner, so called, in Concord, and then returned to Lexington. 
When arrived at the common, the bell was ringing, and the company 
collecting. I immediately got ray arms and went to the parade. Capt. 
Parker gave orders to us to load our guns, but not to fire, unless we were 
fired upon first. About five o'clock in the morning, the British made 
their appearance at the east end of the meeting-house, near where our 
men were, and immediately commenced firing on us. I got over the 
wall into Buckman's land, about six rods from the British, and then turn- 
ed and fired at tlicm. About the middle of the forenoon, Capt. Parker, 
having collected part of his company, marched them towards Concord, 
I being M'ith them. We met the regulars in the bounds of Lincoln, 
about noon, retreating towards Boston. We fired on them, and continu- 
ed so to do until they met their reinforcement in Lexington. 

NATHAN MUNROE. 

Middlesex, ss. Lexington, December 22, 1824.— Then the above- 
named Nathan Munroe made oath to the above, and subscribed his name 
to the same, before me, 

AMOS MUZZY, Justice of the Peace. 



No. 7. 

I, Amos Lock, of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex, testify and 
declare, that, between two and three o'clock on the morning of April 
the 19th, 1775, I heard the bell ring, which I considered as an alarm, 
in consequence of a report, that, John Hancock and Samuel Adams were 
at the house of the Rev. Jonas Clark, and that it was expected, the Bri- 



39 



tish would attempt to take tliem. Therefore Ebenezer Lock and myself, 
both being armed, repaired, with all possible speed, to the mcetinfrhouse. 
On our arrival, we found the militia were collecting; but, shortly after, 
some person came up the road with a report, that there were not any 
regulars between Boston and Lexington. Consequently we concluded 
to return to our fnmilies. We had not proceeded far, before we heard a 
firing; upon which we immediately returned, coming up towards the 
easterly side of the common, where, under the cover of a wall, about 
twenty rods distant from the common, where the British then were, we 
found Asaliel Porter, of Woburn, shot through the body; upon which 
Ebenezer Lock took aim, and discharged his gun at the Britons, who 
were then but about twenty rods from us. We then fell back a short 
distance, and the enemy, soon after, commenced their march for Concord. 

AMOS LOCK. 

Middlesex, ss. December 29, 1824. — Then the above-named Amos 
Lock personally appeared, and made oath to the truth of the foregoing 
affidavit, by him subscribed, before mo, 

NATHAN CHANDLER, Justice of the Peace. 



No. 8. 

I, Joseph Underwood, of Lexington, in the seventy-sixth year of my 
age, on oath do testify, that, on the evening of the 18th April, 1775, in 
consequence of a report, that some British officers had passed through 
town toward Concord, about forty of the militia company assembled, early 
in the evening, at Buckman's tavern, near the meeting-house, for the pur- 
pose of consulting what measures should be adopted. It was concluded 
to send persons toward Concord to watch the motions of the British offi- 
cers ; and others towards Boston, to ascertain if there were any movements 
of the British troops. A guard was stationed at the house of the Kev. Mr. 
Clark, for the purpose of protecting Hancock and Adams, who were then 
residing at Mr. Clark's. The first certain information we had of the ap- 
proach of the British troops, was given by Thaddeus Bowman, between four 
and five o'clock on the morning of the 19th, when Capt. Parker's company 
were summoned by the beat ot the drum, and the line formed. When the 
regulars had arrived witiiin about one hundred rods of our line, they charg- 
ed their pieces, and then moved toward us at a quick step. Some of our 
men, on seeing them, pro])osed to quit the field , but Capt. Parker gave 
orders for every man to stand his ground, and said he would order the first 
man shot, that oflercd to leave his post. I stood very near Capt. Parker, 
when the regulars came up, and am confident he did not order his men 
to disperse, till the British troops had fired upon us the second time. 

JOSEPH UNDERWOOD. 

Middlesex, ss. 7 March, 1825. — Then personally appeared the said 
Joseph Underwood, and made oath to the within statement, by him sub- 
scribed, before me, 

AMOS MUZZY, Justice of Peaces 

No. 9. 

I, Abijah Haerington, one of the representatives to the General 
Court from the town of Lexington, on oath do testify, that, in April, 1775, 
I lived about a mile and a quarter below the meeting-house in Lexington. 
After hearing the firing, on the morning of the 19th, and not getting any 
certain information whether the British had killed any of our men, I 
went up to the meeting-house, soon after the regulars had marched off for 



40 



Concord, and, at the distance of about ten or twelve rods below the 
mectinq^-house, where I was told the main body of their troops stood, 
when they were fired upon by our militia, I distinctly saw blood on the 
ground, in the road, and, the ground being a little descending, the blood 
had run along the road about six or eight feet. A day or two after the 
19th, I was telling Solomon Brown of the circumstance of my having seen 
blood in the road, and where it was. He tlien stated to mc, that he fired 
in that direction, and the road was then full of regulars, and he thought 
he tnust have hit some of them. 

I further testify, that I have heard the late Deacon Benjamin Brown 
repeatedly say, that lie took a British soldier prisoner, on tlie morning of 
the 19th, a few rods below the meeting-house, immediately after the regu- 
lars left the common for Concord, and took his trnn from him. 

ABIJAH HARRINGTON. 

Middlesex, ss. 4th April, 1825. — Then personally appeared the 
aforesaid Abij.ih Harrington, and made oath to the aforegoing affidavit, 
before me, 

AMOS MUZZY, Justice of Peace. 



No. 10. 

I, James Reed, of Burlington, in the county of Middlesex and com- 
monwealth of Massachusetts, do testify and declare, that, soon after the 
Britisli troops had fired upcm the militia at Lexington, on the morning of 
the 19th of April, 1775, and had taken up their march towards Concord, I 
arrived at the common, near the meeting-house, where I found several of 
the militia dead, and others wouiuhd. I also saw a British soldier march up 
the road, near said meeting-house, and Joshua Reed of Woburn met him, 
and demanded him to surrender, lie tlien took his arms and equipments 
from him, and I took charge of him, and took him to my house, then in Wo- 
burn Precinct. I also testify, that E. Welsh brought to my house, soon after 
I returned home with my prisoner, two more of said British troops ; and 
two more were immediately brougiit, and I suppose, by John Munroe and 
Thomas R. Wiliard of Lexington ; and I am confident, that one more was 
brought, but by whom, I don't now recollect. All the above prisoners 
were taken at' Lexington immediately after the main body iiad left the 
common, and were conveyed to my house early in the morning; and I 
took chart^e of them. In the afteri'ioon five or six more of said British 
troops, that were taken prisoners in tiie afternoon, when on the retreat 
from Concord, were brought to my house and put under my care. To- 
wards evening, it was thought best to remove ihcm from my house. I, 
with the assistance of some others, marclicd thein to one Johnson's in 
Woburn Precinct, and there kept a guard over them during tlie night. Tiie 
next morning, we marched them to Billerica; but tiie people were so 
alarmed, and not willing to have them left there, we then took them to 
Chelmsford, and there the people were much frightened; Init the Com- 
mittee of Safety consented to have them left, provided, that we would 
leave a guard. Accord ingK'', some of our men agreed to stav. 

JAMES liEED. 

Middlesex, ss. Jaimanj 19, 1825. — Then the within-nained James 
Eeed subscribed and swore to the aforenamed statement, before 

AMOS MUZZY, Justice of Peace. 



\) 



t a. 




V ST. AUGUSTINE ^ V 









